The median age of homes purchased nationwide reached a record high of 36 years in 2024, a significant jump from 27 years in 2012, according to an analysis released Monday by Redfin.
The trend reflects a long-term slowdown in new home construction and growing affordability challenges. Buyers are increasingly turning to older properties, often out of necessity rather than preference.
Home prices rose in more than 80% of U.S. metro areas in the first quarter of 2025 — even as affordability remained stretched and fewer markets posted double-digit gains.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 189 of 228 metro areas (83%) saw year-over-year increases in the median price for existing single-family homes. That’s a slight decline from 89% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
President Donald Trump’s trade war has turned perceptions of the U.S. economy upside down, and data is beginning to trickle in on how tariffs might impact consumer behavior in the housing market.
The latest numbers come from Fannie Mae‘s Home Purchase Sentiment Index, which measures consumer attitudes on housing using six questions from a national survey. The survey was conducted from April 1-18.
As a real estate professional, it’s fair to say that you’ll have plenty of opinions regarding the properties you show buyers. Depending on your time in the industry, you may have seen hundreds, even thousands of listings at a wide variety of price points. Over time, you’ll cultivate a personal opinion about properties, sometimes within seconds of stepping over the threshold. But when should you share your opinion with a buyer? It’s not always appropriate to tell them what you think, but in other cases, sharing your thoughts is required by law. Here’s how to walk that line.
Realtor.com has launched a new national advertising campaign featuring country music artist and actress Reba McEntire as the company aims to offer reassurance to prospective homebuyers who are navigating a historically difficult real estate market.
The campaign, titled “Nearly Home,” incorporates sitcom-style ads that draw on real buyer experiences and attempt to ease the emotional toll of the homebuying process.
Financial literacy resource provider FirstHome IQ has announced a partnership with Crib Equity, a co-investment platform that aims to improve affordability by increasing the down payment and lowering debt.
When industry experts think about what could lead to a significant departure of loan officers and real estate agents, two main things come to mind: AI and market conditions. Although AI and market conditions will have some level of impact, a much bigger game-changer is coming to the industry. It is the rise of the educated homebuyer, which is now in its infancy but will become the new norm within the next ten years.
Century 21 Real Estate is partnering with the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing to help agents compete more effectively in the high-end housing market.
The collaboration will provide Century 21-affiliated agents with access to specialized training, localized market data, and marketing tools geared toward affluent buyers and sellers.